Steering attachment for threshing-machines.



PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. W. N. KINGSLEY.

STEERING ATIAUHIVIE1\TT FOR THBESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1906.

2 SHEETS-SQET l. N 3% V P Vi f g Q A Witnesses 1 Inventor.

by @flLfl/bvJw-M Attorneys PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

W. N. KINGSLEY. STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 31,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

entor:

Attorneys Witnesses WILLIAM N. KINGSLEY, OF SPRING VALLEY, MINNESOTA.

STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING-IVIACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed July 31, 1905. Serial No. 272,010.

To all whom, it ntnty concern:

Be it known that LIVILLIAM N. KINGSLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring Valley, in the county of Fillmore and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Steering Attachment for Threshing-Machines,of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to steering attachments for threshing-machines, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of devices of this character.

WVith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional form of threshing-machine with the improved steering devices attached. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation, of the operating mechanism arranged upon the deck of the machine, the frame of the machine being in section in Fig. 4. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to 3 and 4, illustrating modified forms in the construction of some of the parts.

The improved device may be applied to any of the various forms of threshing-machines manufactured, but for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to an ordinary structure of this class with the main frame 10, deck 11, rear axle 12, forward axle 13, rear bearing wheels 14, and forward bearingwheels 15, the forward axle being swiveled in the usual manner, as indicated at 16, and provided with a draft-tongue 17.

Disposed transversely of the deck portion 11 is a base member 18, attached, as by bolts 19, to the sides of the frame and having mounted for rotation thereon a drum 20, preferably in two portions, separated by a rib 21.

The upper end of the shaft 22 of the drum is supported by a frame 23 and also provided with a gear-wheel 24, preferably beneath the frame 23. Mounted for rotation in the base member 18 and supported at the upper end by the frame 23 is another shaft 25, having a gear-pinion 26 engaging the gear-wheel 24 and also provided with an operating handwheel 27. The shaft 25 is also provided with a ratchet-wheel 28, and the base member 18 is provided with a pawl 29, having two ends for alternate engagement with the ratchetteeth, so that the shaft 25 may be held from rotation in either direction. Leading from one section of the drum 20 at one side of the dividing member 21 is a cable and conducted thence over guide-pulleys 31 32 downwardly alongside the frame 10 and diagonally beneath the same and attached at one end, as at 33, to a relatively heavy spring 34, the latter in turn connected at the other end to a section of cable or rod 35 to the forward axle 13, near one end, as by a clip 36.. Leading from the other section of the drum 20 at the opposite side of the dividing member 21 and also in the opposite direction from the drum is another cable 37, conducted thence over guide-pulleys 38 39 downwardly alongside the frame 10 and diagonally beneath the same and crossing the cable member 30 and attached at 40 to one end of a spring 41 of the same strength as the spring 34, the spring 41 being connected by a rod or cable 42 to the forward axle 13, as by a clip 43, and at the opposite side from the point where the spring 34 is connected. The dividing member 21 maintains the two cables in separated position and keeps them from becoming entangled. By this simple arrangement it will be obvious that by rotating the hand-wheel 27 to the right or left, as the case may be, the cables 30 and 37 will be alternately Wound upon and unwound from the drum member 20, and thus out the forward axle to a corresponding extent, with the result of steering the machine, as will be obvious.

A seat 44 for the operator may be provided above the deck llof the machine, if required.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified construction of the steering mechanism is shown, consisting in substituting a worm-gear 45 for the gearwheel 24 on the drum-shaft 22 and a wormpinion 46 for the gear-pinion 26 and mounting the same on a horizontal shaft 47, supported by brackets 48 49 from the base-frame 18; but this would not be a departure from the principle of the invention, as the same results are produced in substantially the same manner.

When the structure shown in Figs. 5 and6 is employed, the standards or brackets 48 49 will he horizontally slotted to permit the shaft 47 and its pinion 4:6 to be withdrawn to disconnect the steering mechanism from the axle 13 when required. The pawl 29 when set in its central position, it will be obvious, will accomplish the same results for the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the object to be hereinafter explained.

The tongue 17 is pivoted at 52 to a couplingbar 53, the latter in turn movably connected, as by links 54: 55, to the axle 13. The coupling-bar 53 is provided with brace-straps 56 57 upon opposite sides and likewise bearing upon opposite sides of the tongue 17 and coupled detachably thereto by a removable pin 58. By this means the tongue may be rigidly coupled to the axle when the pin 58 is inserted or left free to swing laterally when the pin is detached, as will be obvious. Thus when the machine is to be drawn by horses the pin 58 is inserted and the steering mechanism released, either by setting the pawl 29 in its central position when the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4: is employed or by releasing the worm-pinion by Withdrawing the set-screws 59 60 when the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is employed, so that the forward wheels 15 may be cramped in the usual manner when turning or moving around curves or corners. When the machine is drawn by a traction -engine, the steering mechanism is again operatively connected and the pin 58 removed, so that the machine may be steered independent of the motive power employed to transport it.

The steering device will be very useful when movingthe thresher into contracted localities where it is not convenient to use horses-as, for instance, when placing in position at the stacks-as in that event the steering mechanism will be utilized to guide the machine while being pushed or pulled into position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. The combination with the casing, of a threshing-machine mounted upon carryingwheels with one of the axles swiveled, of a drum mounted for rotation upon said casing, cables extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of said drum and leading over guide-pulleys and thence extending diagonally and crossing beneath said casing and connected to said swiveled axle at opposite ends, and means for rotating said drum.

2. The combination with the casing, of a threshing-machine mounted upon carryingwheels with one of the axles swiveled, of a drum mounted for rotation upon said casing, cables extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of said drum and leading over guide-pulleys and thence extending diagonally and crossing beneath said casing and connected to said swiveled axle at opposite ends, means for rotating said drum, and springs connected into said cables adjacent to said axle.

3. In a device of the class described, a threshing-machine having carrying-wheels with the axle'of one pair of said wheels swiveled, a base member connected upon the deck of said threshing-machine and transversely of the same, a shaft mounted for rotation upon said base member and carrying a cable-drum, cables connected to said drum and leading therefrom in opposite directions and conducted thence downwardly and crossing beneath the casing and coupled to said swiveled axle near its opposite ends, and means for actuat- WVILLIAM N. KINGSLEY.

Witnesses:

L. T. LOBDILL, CHARLES SEELEY. 

